Closure, particularly closure for sand boxes of vehicles



Feb. 10, 1953 A. G. DEA

cLosuRE, PARTICU SAND BOXES CLOSURE FOR VEHICLES LARLY 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Oct. l. 1949 INVENTOR. lberf CT. Dean..

ATTRNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1953 CLOSURE, PARTICULARLY CLOSURE FOR SAND BOXES OF VEHICLES Alberi G. Dean, Nar-berth, ra., assignoito 'rue Budd Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 1, 1949, Serial No. 119,188

(Cl. 19E- 33) l Claims. Y 1

This invention relates to closures, particularly to closures for sand boxes of vehicles, and has for an object the provision of improvements in this art.

One of the particular objects of the invention is to provide closure means which will fully weatherproof the opening which it covers. This is very important in traction sanding because the sand must be kept very dry or it will not flow properly.

Another object is to provide a water shed over the weather seal of a closure in order to substantially prevent the entry of moisture to the weather seal. This is very important in avoiding freezing at the weather seal with consequent likelihood of injury thereto.

Another object is to provide an improved closure construction which is very simple and rugged and in which an inner closure is pressed down by an cuter closure.

Another object is to provide an improved closure construction in which the inner closure acts as a iilling` chute when open.

Another object is to provide an improved closure construction in which specific hinge and latch means are not required but in which the closures properly maintain their positions, whether open or closed.

The above and other objects and advantages oi the invention will be apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation in perspective of a construction embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the outer closure open and with parts cut away in places to show the interior construction;

Fig. 3 is a similar view with both closures completely removed;

Fig. 4 is a similar view with the frame of the opening removed and with parts cut away in section;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with both closures removed, and with parts cut away to show interior construction;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken about on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentaiy section taken about on the line l-I of Fig. 2, showing the outer closure y in lower position and;

Fig. 8 is an inside perspective view of the inner closure alone.

The. closurev construction is herein illustrated in connection with a sandbox opening in the horizontal ribs I4 and wide horizontal flute strips,

I5 which are snapped in between the ribs l.

Insulation I6 may be provided between the sheet.

I3 and the outer liner I'l of the sandbox, The. inner liner I3 of the sandbox is spaced away fromv the outer liner I'I by a channel-shaped mem. ber or members I9, the open part of the chang nel preferably facing outwardly. A Z-section inner framing piece 20 surrounds the filling opening of the sandbox within the larger opening cut in the lining sheet Il. In the region around the opening there is added a strengthening and rigidifying sheet 2| having a suitable hole cut therein around the sandbox opening. Above the opening there is a heavy rail 22 which may be considered with I3, I4 and I5 as part of the outer sheathing, the upper flange of this rail being secured (as by resistance welding) to a thick sheet 23 which is secured to the car fram ing represented by the horizontal member 24. Atv the bottom and ends of the opening and on the outer side is secured an inner frame 2G and at the top and ends of the openingv there is placed an outer frame 21. A plate 21a at the bottom completes the inner ange of the outer frame 21. The outer frame has return anges 28 forming retaining and edge-covering elements.

for an outer closure presently to be described.y The assembled flanges of parts 2t, 2l, 22, 26 21 and iiller strips 30 (corresponding to the space; for I3 and 23) are secured together, as by screws. or bolts 3l.

The parts described above, though seemingly somewhat complex, constitute essentially a hollow side wall carrying a sandbox'provided with a lling opening having an inner frame -for an inner closure and an outer frame for an outer closure.

The opening is covered by an inner closure 35 provided with resilient weatherstripping 35, as of rubber, secured to the back of the closure by plates 3l and bolts 38. At the bottom the plate 3l is extended to form a hinging hanger or hinge piece 39 which embracesthe lower edge of the frame of the opening. 'Ifheclosure 35. may be swung out at the top. as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 6. It is provided with side plates 40 having inturned flanges 40a secured to the closure by bolts or screws 4l. Out-turned flanges 40h engage the structure at the sides of the opening to hold the closure in the lling position in which it and the side plates 40 constitute a filling chute, as shown in the dot and dash lines of Fig, 6. By removing the side plates 40, the bolts 4i being readily accessible when the closure is swung out, the entire closure may be removed.

An outer closure 45 is slidably mounted in guide grooves formed in the side pieces of the outer frame 21 and at the upper edge, when closed, enters a top groove formed in the top piece of the frame. A handle 46 is provided on the closure for operating it.

Means are provided for pressing the inner closure inward to seal tightly on its weatherstrip 3b and for pressing the outer closur-e outward against its retaining flanges of the frame 21, the means illustrated comprising bowed leaf springs il arranged vertically. The springs' 41 are attached to the inner closure, as by some of the same bolts 38 which secure the weatherstrip plates 3l. The springs are pressed down by the outer closure as it rides up over them. Lugs 4S on the outer closure ride up and over the crest oi the springs to hold the closure securely in its upper or closed position. Hooks 9 located at the upper ends and on the inner side of the closure d engage resilient bumper pads t, as shown in Fig. '1, to limit the downward movement of the closure. The pads 5d may be attached by adhesive, screws, or other known means, and when removed permit the removal of the closure d5. The closure may also be removed by loosening the screws 3l holding the frame 21.

By pulling the outer closure d5 down by its handle 46 until it hangs by its hooks 49, the inner closure is exposed and released to open. By pulling on lea-r" springs t1 the inner closure is pulled outA at the top so as to provide, with its side plates All, a chute for pouring sand into the sandbox. The inner yclosure hinges out by interaction of its curved hinge piece 39 on the lower edge of the closure opening, 4the closure in open position being retained by the hinge piece 3d and by the outer flanges orwears 4Gb of the kside plates sii. The bottom hinge piece 3i) and thevside pieces Se keep sand away from the side and bottom runs of weatherstripping .and such sand as may fall on the top run of weatherstripping may be readily brushed off if it does not drop od.

To close the lling opening, the inner closure 35 is swung back up to enga-ge its weatherstripping 3S with the frame face, after which the outer closure is pulled up over the springs 4t until its upper edge enters beneath the outer flange 2S of the upper part of the outer frame 21. The lugs 4S, resting on the upper sides of the springs lll, hold the closure 45 securely in its upper position. v

The interaction of the springs upon the two closures holds the inner closuretightly sealed on its weatherstripping'and presses the outer closure out tightly against its retaining ilanges 28. These ilanges, especially the upper one, shingle the edges of the outer closure to prevent entry' of moisture. The lower edge stands clear of other parts to allow all drip water to fall clearly away so that there is no danger of water creeping inward. If ice forms on the outside it may be .cracked at theV edgesby giving the outer closure an inward blow against the springs 41. No iceY can be formed on the inner closure because no moisture can reach it.

It will now be seen that the invention provides a very simple and effective closure means for an exposed opening and one which can be easily operated in all kinds of weather conditions while providing maximum protection against entry of moisture.

While one embodiment has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that there may be various embodiments within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Closure means comprising in combination with a gener-ally vertical wall having a lling opening therein, a frame for said opening, a irst closure turnably mounted by a curved hinge plate embracing the lower edge of the frame to permit the closure to swing out at the upper edge, side plates on the inside of said closure forming with the curved hinge plate a filling chute when the closure is open at an inclination to the frame, weatherstripping on the inner surface Iedges of the closure and extending completely therearound, the bottom and side weatherstripping being protected from material passing through the chute by said bottom and side plates, an outer closure slidable upward to close over said inner closure, a leai spring between said closures to press the inner closure closed against its weatherstripping when the outer closure is closed, guides for retaining the sides of the outer closure, and a weather shed for the top of said outer closure when closed.

2. Closure means, as for a sand box, comprising in combination with a generally vertical wall having an exposed filling opening therein, a frame for said opening including an inner face and outer retaining iianges, an inner closure provided on the inner side at the bottom with a curved plate loosely hinging it on the lower edge of the frame, side chute plates on the inner side of the inner closure connecting with the bottom hinge plates to form a lling chute, weather-stripping extending completely around the inner surface periphery of said inner closure, said weatherstripping on the bottom and sides being located outside and being protected from material passing through the chute by said hinge and chute plates, laterally extending side elements on said chute plates retaining the inner closure at an angle with the frame and against falling outward from open position, vertically aligned bowed leaf springs secured on the outer surface of the inner closure, an outer closure slidably mounted beneath said retaining flanges and movable over said leaf springs, Va Weather seal shed enclosing the upper end of the outer closure when closed, lugs on the inner surface of said outer closure riding up over the crest of said springs when the outer closure is pushed up to closed position to hold it closed, and hooks on the top of said outer closure engageable with resilient pads to support the outer closure when lowered to open position, the interaction of said springs when the closures are closed pressing the weatherstripping of the inner closure tightly against the framev face and pressing the outer closure tightly against its retaining flanges to form a weather shedding shingling seal, the lower edge of the outer closure being spaced outwardly from the other parts to avoid water creepage.

3.-Closure means for the frame of an opening ensmsg in a side wall, as for a sand box, comprising in combination, a frame for said opening, said frame having inner seating surfaces around its edges for an inner closure, an inner closure mounted to seat on said inner seating surfaces and to swing outward therefrom, said frame having retaining guides spaced outwardly from the inner closure, said guides being covered at the upper side by a weather shed extending across the opening, an outer closure slidable in said guides from an upper position where it closes the opening and has its upper edge covered by said weather shed to a lower open position, the lower edge of the outer closure in the closed position standing at a distance in front of said frame and wall to form a water drip clear of the wall, and resilient means between said inner and outer closures when closed pressing the inner closure inward on its seating surfaces and pressing the outer closure outward against its retaining guides.

4. Closure means as set forth in claim 3, wherein interengaging means are provided between said resilient means and one of said closures for holding the outer closure in its closed upper position.

ALBERT G. DEAN.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number i Name Date 909,070 Eichler Jan. 5, 1909 951,602 Edwards Mar. 8, 1910 1,182,917 Lotz May 16, 1916 1,191,432 Jones July 18, 1916 1,226,511 Harper May 15, 1917 1,236,718 Keep Aug. 14, 1917 1,506,774 Redrup Sept. 2, 1924 1,789,123 Triggs Jan. 13, 1931 1,879,069 Burgess Sept. 27, 1932 2,219,173 Cain Oct. 22, 1940 2,394,358 Blomberg Feb. 5, 1946 2,413,923 Kackley et al. Jan. 7, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 24,266 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1903 239,001 Germany Oct. 7, 1911 

